Expansible chamber rotary motor of the sliding abutment type



July 18, 1950 J. T. BARRETT 2,515,288

EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER ROTARY MOTOR OF THE SLIDING ABUTMENT TYPE Filed Nov. 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 18, 1950 J. T. BARRETT 2,515,288

EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER ROTARY MOTOR OF THE SLIDING ABUTMENT TYPE Filed Nov. 15,1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N N N *R s Q Q) g I i I g s V i v k 5 6725.56 TBar/eff,

$%/%M ms Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER ROTARY MOTOR OF THE SLIDING ABUTMENT TYPE Jesse T. Barrett, Eudora, Ark. Application November 15, 1944, Serial No. 563,590

2 Claims. (01. 12177) This invention relates to fluid pressure power generation and transmission means, an object being to improve generally upon means of this kind so as to minimize loss of energy and attain a'high order of eificiency in operation and control of the correlated and interdependent cooperative working parts. An important object is to improve in particular the transmission means as to the working parts thereof and the system of association thereof in a practical assembly capable of substantial flexibility in various installations whether the prime mover or driving element and the driven element or elements are connected in relatively close relation to each other or at considerable distance apart. A further object is to provide for varying the speed and pressure of the prime mover and in the control and regulation of the transmission means with provision for varying the speed and power of the driven element.

Other objects and advantages to be attained will hereinafter more fully appear in the following detailed description of the invention.

A practical but non-limiting adaptation of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings showing both structurally and schematically prime moveror power elements and driven elements having. rotors of an elliptical type and saidelements being connected by a transmission means in accordance with the present invention, in which drawings: v

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of a complete operative assembly;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in section, illustrating details of the prime mover or power element; v

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on or about the line 3V-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; 1 v

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 9 showing details of the controlling valve in the flow control box of the pressure fluid medium;

Figure 6 .is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing details of the valve means for controlling and varying the directional flow ofthe fluid pressurein the transmission means;

Figure '7 is a sectional View on the line 'l--'! of Figure 6; a

Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating structural details of, the air eliminating element of the transmission, means;

Figure. 9 is a longitudinal section through the controlling box and valve element of the transmission means which regulates the volume of fluid passing from the prime mover or power element ,to the driven element; and

FigurelO is a detail view of a modified for of driven element.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral [0 designates the cylindrical housing or casing of the prime mover or power generating element ll of the invention. This element is in the nature of a pump comprising a shaft I2 which is driven from a conventional motor (not shown). Keyed fixedly on the shaft l2 to rotate by and therewith is an elliptical rotor l3, the ends of the longer axis of which ride in close relation to the inner peripheral face of the housing or casing Ill. The rest of the circum: ferential face of the rotor 13 is out of contact and spaced away from the opposed face of the housing or casing Ill, whereby to define fluid chambers M in the housing or casing H]. The widest portion of the chambers I4 is at opposed distances coincident with the shortest axis of the elliptical rotor.

Slidable in hollow rectangular extensions [5 of the housing or casing I6 are gate members or abutments l6 which are urged through openings H in the peripheral wall of the housing or casing l0 and into the respective chambers I l. The means for urging the gate members l6, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a plurality of spring elements I8. As shown at [9 and more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the gate element l6 has a contact shoe pivotally attached to its inner end for engaging the circumferential face of the elliptical rotor l3. As shown, this contact element I9 is arcuate in form on its outer face, thus providing opposite margins which engage edgewise with the face of the rotor.

The pivotal mounting of the contact member I9 and retention of the same in the gate valve It is by the formation of the base of the member l9 as a bead of substantiallycylindrical cross section and the fitting of this beaded portion in a counterpart undercut groove formed therefor in the adjacent edge portion of the gate valve. The peculiar form of the contact member I9 is such that the opposite edge portions of the member are held in contact with the periphery of the rotor l3 and effective seal is provicledwhich prevents passage of fluid between the member l9 and rotor I3 to and from either side of the gate valve l6. An effective seal is also provided between the diametrically opposite apex portions of the rotor 13 coinciding with posite side margins of the resilient member 23 are rebent, as at 2!, and. fitted into undercut key grooves in the adjacent peripheral portion of the rotor l3. s

In the illustrated adaptation of the invention (see Figure 1) the prime moveror power element. H is provided with two of the aforesaid gate valves. These valves are arranged at right angles to each other or at an angle of 90 from the axis of the rotor. Leading from 22 in the housing creasing ll rospectively at one sideof the gatevalv'es it; are branch pipes 23 each connecting with a fluid upply pipe Moi the transmissionsystem tobe later described more fully in detail. At the opposite side of each gate valve IS, the housing or easing l is provided with a port 25 and connected t0'- these ports 25 are branch pipes 26; both connected to a return pipe 2 of the transmission system. I

With the provision arrangement of the parts of the prime mover or power generator as above dscrib'ed if the rotor i3 is" rotated clock- Wiseas indicated by the-arrow in Figure 1, and with the gate valves l5 pressing with their contact membei s til enga ement with the peripheral face of the rotor [-3, the: within the chambers to in the housing or easin it isdisplaced and forced outthrough the branch pipes 23 into the-conducting pipe 24 of thotransmis-sion system.- Tl'iis results from the gradual reduction in volume of the contained liquid which is crowded by the high and'wali sealingportion ofthe rotor against one side of the abutment alierded by the inwardly pressed gate valve it. In the chamber Hi at the opposite side of the gate valve It? avacuum is created during the rotation of the rotor- #3 whereby fluid from thereturn conductor pipezi'fiows through the bran-ch pipes 26 into the chamber M'which is at this time graduall yincreasing in areaand accordingly taking in an increased voiume' of the liquid.

As shown to the right- Fig-ure 1. the driven elen'ient is also of the elliptical rotor type: In this illustrated adaptation of the invention. the housing or casing 21" of the driven element is of a generally cylindrical form. The rotor 28 of this driven element is substantially identical with the rotor N3- of the prime mover or power element H. It is fitted on a driven shaft iifijournaled to rot-ate in any conventional manner in the housingor casing 27 and which is adapted to operate a utility or utilities not shown) A radial gate valve 3% is provided on the housing or casing 21' and arranged to operate in a manner similar tothe gate valves I 6" of the prime mover or power'e'lement I}. A fluid supply pipe (3-! has a pair of'bran-ches 32, 33 spaced apart and communicating through ports 34 and 35 with a chamber 36 in the housing or casing 21' atone side of the gate valve 38. Attached communicably to ports 3 and 32? respectively opening into an evacuating chamber 39 is a pair of branch pipes 4-0, 4| of a return conductor pipe 42.

In practice, a pair of" the driven rotors 28 and 28 are provided in cooperative relation to each other on the shaft 29. They may be in separate housings 2'! or a single housing having separate chambers of substantially like form and arrangement as illustrated in the full lines in Figure l and with the two rotors 28 and 28 set in parallel position on the shaft 29, in which case, two radial extensions l5 and [5" of the casing or housing containing the gate valves 30' and 30, respectively, are disposed at an angle of'90 to each other. This relative parallel arrangement of the two rotors on the shaft and right-angular positioning of the gate valves gives a balanced operating effect wherebythe rotation of the shaft 29 is practically constant.

' 'Instea'd of having the parallel arrangement of the rotors Z8 and 28' on the shaft 29 the rotors may be set at right angles to each other, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, in which case, of

Invoperating died the. two conductor pipes. 24

and 3| are substantial continuations of each other. Likewise, they return pipes 2.! and 42 are, in eifect, continuations of each other. That is to say, the s'aidpipes are substantial continuations of each other exceptior the interposition of correlated elements to be presently described, and utilized as means for controlling and regulating the volume and direction of. flowof the fluid between the. driving element and the driven element of the apparatus.

The fluid conductor pipe 24,- through the rightangular extension 24, leads directly into a fluid volume control box 43- (see Figures 1 and- 9). At the end of the box. 43 opposite to that where the pipe 24 isattachedthrough said pipe 24', an extension 2'I" of the return pipe 21, is connected. The box 43 has provision for controlling the flow otfluid therethrough whereby the fluid may be either. passed directly from the pipe 24' to the pipe 21", in-wh-ich case the fluid displaced from the power unit I-. l by rotationof the rotor I3 is returned directly to the. unit, or else the fluid from the pipe 24' may be conducted at the will oi the operator to the conductor; pipe 52 and the pipe 3| leading to the driven element 21', from which element the fluid displaced therein is returned through the pipe 42-1 andthe pipe- 54: to said control box 43. The device 431 not only controls the direction. of fluid flow as just above described but is also provided and arranged to control the a volume of fluid passed through the" box and either to the driven element 21 or returned to the driving element II. For the accomplishment of this the box is divided into two separate chambers 44, 45, by a partition 46 located substantially midway between the endsof the box. The partition 45 is provided with an opening of maximum area 41, as shov'sin,- has twoof its sides curved. A rotatable disk? or gate valve 48 is 10- cated close to and in sliding facial contact with one side of the partition- 46 and provided with anopening of an elongated and substantially arcuate-form and with convergent sides so as to vary in width from one end of the opening to the other, the disc 48 being mounted on a shaft 50 having a crank 5| on its outer end" whereby it may be operated from without the box 43'. By rotating the disc 48, the opening 41 in the partition 46 may be closed entirely or opened to any proportionate degree desired. When the disc 48 is turnedto uncover the opening 41 in the parti.

tion 46 to the maximum area thereof, and the area of .the opening being then considerably in excess of the capacity of the pipes 24' and'2'|"., the volume of flowing liquid is at its maximum and the travel is directly from the pipe 24, through the partition opening 41 to pipe 21". .In this particular control of the fluid there is no appreciable efiect of the. fluid on the driven element 21. However, if the opening in the partition45. is appreciably reduced in area by the turning of the disc valve 48', thus restricting the flow of the fluid through-the'opening 41, fluid under the pressure built up in the chamber 44 is conductedfrom the box 43 through a pipe 52 to a directional flow controlling element 53 to be presently described more fully in detail, and from this element 53 into the conductor pipe 3| leading to the driven element 21'- Fluid evacuated from the driven element 21 is conducted through the pipe 42 to the directional flow controlling element 53, thence back .to the flow control box 43 through a return pipe 54. The return pipe 54 leads into the chamber 45 of the control box 43 and from this chamber 45 the fluid is conducted through the branch pipe 21" and return conductor pipe 21 to the driving element I. It will thus be seen that the fluid from the pipe 24 may be conducted directly to the driven element 21' through the medium of the interposed control element 53 and at such varying lesser degrees of pressure obtained by. adjusting the valve member 48to vary the efiective working area of the opening 41 in the partition 46.

The directional flow controlling element 53 shown generally in Figure. 1 is illustrated more clearly in detail in Figures 6 and 7. The body housing or casing of this element has a generally cylindrical body portion in which is fitted a rotatabledisc valve 54' that is operated by a crank 55 located outside of the body housing or casing. Thebody housing or casing of the element 53 has atransverse, extension 56 in which two longitudinally aligned elongated chambers 51. and 58 are formed, said chambers being intercommunicable at their meeting ends through a pas- A sageway 59. This passageway 59. is normally closed by a valve element 60. The chambers 51 and 58 have port openings 6| and 62, respectively, which are disposed diagonally with relation to port openings53 and 64 in the cylindrical body portion of the element 53, the port opening 63 being provided for the attachment. of the conductor pipe 52 and the port opening 64 being pro:- vided for the attachment of the fluid return pipe 54. The rotary valve element 54' is provided with a diametrical passageway 65 establishing. communication between the ports SI and 63 in the normal position of thevalve member. A diagonally arranged passageway 56 in the valve member establishes communication between the ports 52 and 64 at the time communication is established between the ports 6| and 53 through the said passageway 65, it being understood that the two passageways 65 and 66 are dipped or deflected out of alignment so as to cross at .the center of the valve member 54 without interference with each other.

The fluid chamber 51 of the controlling element 53 may be provided to supply fluid to a single con.- ductor pipe 3| for the transmission of power to a single driven unit. However, as illustrated in Figurefi, the chamber 51 functions as ,a manifold whereby the fluid may be supplied simultaneously toa plurality of additionalconduc'to'r pipes 3|. leading to a corresponding number. of separate driven units. The other chamber 58 may be like wise used to receive fluid from a single return pipe 42, from a-single driven unit or from a plurality of return pipes 42' delivering fluid from-a corresponding number of driven. units to said chamber 58.. In the illustration in Figure 6, the valve is shown in closing relation to the passageway 59 between the two chambers 51 and 58. So, too, at this time, the fluid supply chamber, 51 is open to all of the several pipes 3|, 3|. Theopposite chamber 58 is also in communicationzwith all of the pipes 42, 42. However, a pair of spaced apart valve members 6'! are provided to straddle the port openings 6| and an opposed port open ing 68 where the conductor pipe 3| communicates with the chamber '51. Corresponding valves 69 are. provided for limiting communication solely between the port 62 and an opposed port 10 through whichthe return pipe 42 communicates with the chamber 58. All of the valves 60, 61 and 69, are mounted upon a common operating shaft 7| having a manipulating handle 12 at the front end thereof. Similar pockets 13 are provided for each of the said valve members to accommodate them in their opened and closed positions and the valve members are simultaneously operated by turning the shaft H. In this way, whenthe valve member is in closed relation to the pas sageway 59 the other valves 61 and 59 are in their opened position with relation to the pipes 3| and 42, respectively. At this time,.asabove stated, communication is established between the cham-; ber 51 and allof the pipes 3|, 3| and likewisebetween the chamber 58 and the pipes 42,42, to operate several driven units either in series 0 parallel. i

In the position'of the valve'54' as shown in Figure 6, the fluid under pressure from the power unit II is delivered to the driven unit 21, sothat the rotor or rotors 28 thereof are caused to rotate in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. To. reverse the operation of the driven unit 21' the valve member 54' of the con.- trolling element 53 is provided with an annular circumferential passageway 13 that, by rotation of the valve member 54 one end portion 'Hl of the passageway 13 is brought into communicable registration with the supply pipe 52, and at the same time the opposite end I5 of this passage-.- way 73 is brought into communicable registration with the port 62, whereby the fluid under pressure from the power element H is delivered into the chamber 58 instead of the chamber 51. The valve member 54' is provided with an op.- posite circumferential passageway 15,,one end of which is brought into communicable registration with the port 6| and its opposite end portion 18 in communicable registration with the return pipe 54. The driven unit will thus be driven reversely to the direction indicated .in Figure 1. It isv here also noted that if either one of the passageways 13 or T6 of the valve member 54' are, by the turning of the valve member 54', brought into a position to establish communication directly between the conductor pipe 52 and return pipe 54, no fluid is passed to either of the chambers 51 or 58 but is returned directly to the power element II. The. power element thus idles in its operation without any driving effect at all upon the drivenunit 21'. At this time, the pressure of the fluid in the housing 21' of the driven unit is equalized in'the chambers on opposite sides of therotor 28 and has a brak in effect On therotor.

An air eliminator maybe provided atany com 7 venient point or points-in the transmission sys- An example of such provision is illustrated in Figures 1 and 8.- As shown in Figure l, the air eliminator, indicated generally by the numeral 19, is located in the line between the conductor pipe 24- and its branch zwwhicn enters the fluid volume control element 43. As shown more clearly the sectional view in Figure 8, the air eliminator device 19' comprises a box 80 at one end and near the bottom of which the pipe 24 enters, while the branch pipe 24 leads out of the bottom of'the box. Extendin'gdiagonally from the'end and bottom of the box 80 where the pipe Menters and terminating near the top of the box so as to overhang the port opening where the pipe 24 enters the box, is a screen member of comparatively fine mesh M. In the operation of the transmission means of the present inven tion, fiuid in the box builds up to a considerable level but not above the top of the screen 8!. Fluid entering the box from the pipe 24 has to pass through thescre'en 8| from side of side thereof before passing from the box through the branch pipe 2 Thus any air bubbles in the fluid entering the box 88 are interrupted by the screen andrise to the surface of the body of fluid and into the space maintained thereabove and having the effect of breaking up the bubbles with the result that the liquid that has passed through the screen 8| is free of any air which would have a detrimental effect and take from the desired non compressibility of the fluid.

It is here noted that by reference more particularly to Figures 2,- 3 and 4, the gate valve member I6 is rabbeted at each end to provide a rib 82 which works with a close sliding fit in a counterpart groove in the adjacent end wall of the valve casing extension l5 of the power element H or driven element 21', as the case may be. This is to afford an efficient guiding means forthe valve member I6 and at the same time prevent leakage of the fluid from the elements H and 21'. So, too, by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3', it is seen that the rotors l3 and 28- are provided on their opposite side faces with packing elements 83 substantially paralleling the elli-ptical curvature of the rotors. These packing elements 83 bear againstthe adjacent side Walls of the housings or casings H and 2? and afford effective seals against leakage of fluid between V the: rotors and easing walls.

In Figure there is illustrated a modification of the driven unit 2?. In this form of the unit the stationary housing or casing 84' has an elliptical chamber 85, and the rotor 86 working therein is truly circular. There is a further difference in that the radial sliding gate valve I6 is carried by the rotor instead of the housing or casing as in the first herein described formor uniti'lfl- So, too, the resilient fluid sealing elements '20 are mounted on diametrically opposite inner face portions of the elliptical chamber 35 across the shortest axis of the ellipse, In the use of this modified form of driven unit there will be associated in cooperative relation a pair of the housings or casings 84 with the respective elliptical chambers thereof arranged with their longest axes at right angles to each other so as to have substantially the same operating effect as in the instance of. the arrangement of elliptical rotors 28 and 28' in Figure 1.

In the general adaptation and use of the transmission means of the present invention, an air eliminating element of the character described will belocated at the place indicated in the illustration: in. Figure l, and, in some cases, at other places inthe pipe line, depending upon the length of the line in the particular installation; but should it be desired to shunt or bypass the flow of the fluid outside of the box 80, the conducting. pipes 24 and 24 may be connected by aibypass pipe 82 (see Figure 1) having a cutofi valve 83' which isopened for use of the by pass 82' when desired, but closed when it is desired to pass the liquid through the air eliminating element 19.. When the valve 83 is opened the fluid will pass from the pipe 2t through the bypass 32" to the pipe 24' by way of least re sistance but, if desired; a similar cutoff valve 84 may be provided in the pipe 24" just where it leaves the box 80, and still another valve 85' may be provided in the end portion of the pipe 24 just where it enters the box 80. By closing either or bothof the valves 84 and. 855 it is assured that no fluid will travel from the pipe 24 through the box and into the pipe 24'.

By the disclosure in the drawings and the foregoing description thereof it is clearly apparent that a fluid power generation and transmission system is produced which is adaptable for practical use in closely arranged and self-oontained fluid powergenerators and'transmission of the same to a driven element such as, for example, in a motor vehicle or the like, and in various installations where the driven element or unit is located at a considerable distance remote from the power unit or driving element, thereby eliminating the necessity for using complicated and expensive mechanical transmission elements.

The illustrated construction and-arrangement of parts is for the purposes of exeinplification of' the invention without limitation to any one particular construction and arrangement. The invention, therefore, may be embodied in many difierent adaptations thereof within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown. That is to say, for example all of the controlling elements in the transmission systern between the fluid power generator and: the driven unit may be elimii'lated except possibly a fll'iid volume control element or the character of the hereinabove described device 43 to provide for variable speed operation of the rotor of the drivenunit and to afford a braking effect by bringing to the stopping point any rotationoi the rotor. So, too, by providing by-pass connec-' tions between an extraneous utility to be supplied with fluid pressure and the supply pipe 23 from and the return pipe 26 to the power generator if, the power generator may be obviously used as a force or booster pump.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is;

1. Ina rotary fluid ressureoperated means comprising a casing having paired chambers with aligned bearings,- a driven shai t rotatably'mount ed in the bearings; a pair of rotors fixed upon the shaft and individually disposed in the two casing chambers, apair of radial extensions upon the casing, a pair of radial gate valves movably disposed in said radial extensions operative indi vidually inwardly-against the rotors in said two casing chambers, the casing having in connection with both chambers both inlet and outlet ports for pressure 'flu-id spaced fore and aft of the radial gate valves, th features which include havingthe rotors elliptical in form to provide two diametrically opposite maximumv radial extensions uponv each rotor dividing each chamber in the easing into two pressure chambers upon the opposite sides of each rotor, and having the two radial gate valves with their associated inlet and outlet ports and the two elliptical rotors mutually disposed in such angular relation that when one maximum radial extension of one rotor passes the radial gate valve operating against the latter, the other rotor presents the intermediate portion of one of the sides thereof to the other gate valve with the latter angularly disposed at 90 to the maximum radial extensions of said other rotor in order to provide a new driving impulse to said driven shaft at each quarter revolution thereof.

2. In a rotary fluid-pressure-operated means comprising a casing having paired chambers with aligned bearings, a driven shaft rotatably mounted in the bearings, a pair of rotors fixed upon the shaft and individually disposed in the two casing chambers, a pair of radial extensions upon the casing, a pair of radial gate valves movably disposed in said radial extensions operative individually inwardly against the rotors in said two casing chambers, the casing having in connection with both chambers both inlet and outlet ports for pressure fluid spaced fore and aft of the radial gate valves, the features which include having the rotors elliptical in form and co-extensively mounted on the driven shaft to provide two diametrically-opposite maximum radial extensions upon each rotor dividing each chamber in the easing into two pressure chambers upon the opposite sides of each rotor, and having a radial gate valve with the inlet and outlet ports associated therewith and operating against one rotor angularly disposed substantially at 9 with respect to the other gate valve with the inlet and outlet ports associated therewith and operating against the other rotor in order to provide a new driving impulse to said driven shaft at each quarter revolution thereof.

JESSE T. BARRETT.

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